New opera alert--"Everest"

Dallas Opera will present a world premiere of a new opera “Everest” with music by composer Joby Talbot and libretto by Greg Scheer. It will be conducted by Nicole Paiement (from Opera Paralléle in San Francisco) who has a fine reputation for conducting new works. It’s inspired by the tragic events on Everest in 1996, when 8 climbers perished on the slopes of Mt. Everest. The story is mostly based on Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air supplemented by the librettist’s contacts with those present at the events or connected to it. The performance dates are Jan. 30, Feb. 1, Feb. 4, and Feb. 7. Dallas Opera

Other travel plans will prevent Mary and me from attending. With a new opera, one never knows if it will survive to a second showing.
There will also be presented the 4th act of Alfredo Catalani’s, “La Wally”, first performed in 1892. Its connection to “Everest” is that it takes place in the Alps. The plot is standard. Girl meets boy, girl’s father does not like boy, and tragedy ensues. Despite strong backing from Toscanini, “Wally” has never become popular. Here’s Wikipedia’s description of Act IV
“Wally (heroine) hears another voice. It is Hagenbach (boyfriend), who has recovered from his injuries and come to confess his love. The lovers are reconciled and Hagenbach goes to find a safe path back down the mountain. He shouts up to Wally, but the noise of his call sets off an avalanche which carries him away. Wally stands for a moment on the edge of the precipice before hurling herself down to her death.”
Years ago, I posted a quiz entitled Grand Opera and Grand Climbing—just connecting facts in the opera with something to do with climbing. One of the answers was “La Wally” (easy enough to figure out after the quote above.

Quiz: Grand Opera and Grand Climbing

It occurred as I was writing this that the grandeur of alpinism lends itself to dramatic interpretations whether novels or operas. It’s hard to imagine someone writing an opera based on crag climbing and certainly not on bouldering. Bouldering is fascinating for the participants, as I well know from experience, but quite uninteresting for anyone else--sort of like race walking.
Rob.calm
Dallas Opera Quiz: Grand Opera and Grand Climbing

Personally, I sing poorly over 18,000ft

seems like it would be more of a soap opera.

Dear Rob.Calm:

Delighted to have you spreading the word about the Dallas Opera's upcoming world premiere by Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer, EVEREST, but want to make sure it's correct information, as a local publication recently put out some erroneous info (assuming without actually checking) that has muddied the theatrical waters.

EVEREST is (emphatically) NOT based on "Into Thin Air." It deals with the same 1996 tragedy but has a libretto created after extensive interviews with the survivors, conducted by Mr. Scheer. It will become clear from the moment the curtain goes up that this thrilling new opera is not related in any way to Mr. Krakauer's best-seller.

Thanks for letting me set the record straight. I really wish you and Mary could make it to Dallas for the opening run! It's going to be amazing!

Suzanne Calvin
Director of Media and Public Relations
The Dallas Opera
214.443.1014

Have they hired additional locals, smaller and stronger than the main singers, to do all the singing for a meager wage?

Reply to Adam Burch: Based on your question, I would guess you haven't seen or heard the principal members of the EVEREST cast in action: Andrew Bidlack, Sasha Cooke, Kevin Burdette and Craig Verm - who has serious experience as both a climber and a rock climbing trainer, in addition to his career as a professional opera singer.

The Dallas Opera world premiere is in very capable and experienced hands.

Hey Suzanne,

It was a bit of fun, based on the way the people actually climb Mount Everest. Most are rich men that hire the local Sherpa to haul everything and put up fixed lines - then they walk up after.

Don't sweat it - I'm sure your opera is lovely.

Ah, my sense of humor, I know it's here somewhere...probably buried beneath the pile of papers on my desk. Thank you for helping me recover it, Adam - and just in time for the weekend! Have a great one!

New alpine record: the first to sing Vesti la Giubba on the Everest summit and hit all the notes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kbi1EMcD3E

I'll venture a few guesses:

1. Alberich in das Reihngold.

3. Donizetti's la fille du re'giment: Maria was saved by Tonio.

5. Carmen's smugglers hide in the Sierra Morena.

6. In Britten's Peter Grimes, John falls down a cliff.

8. Schoenberg's Moses (from Moses und Aron) is gone for forty days.

9. Fanella in Auber's Muette de Portici/Masaniello.

The last is a very wild guess.

brenta wrote:I'll venture a few guesses: 1. Alberich in das Reihngold. 3. Donizetti's la fille du re'giment: Maria was saved by Tonio. 5. Carmen's smugglers hide in the Sierra Morena. 6. In Britten's Peter Grimes, John falls down a cliff. 8. Schoenberg's Moses (from Moses und Aron) is gone for forty days. 9. Fanella in Auber's Muette de Portici/Masaniello. The last is a very wild guess.

You are a winner! I’ll PM you to get your address and will send you a copy of Rock Climbing at Vedauwoo, Wyoming.

Good on No. 3. The Metropolitan Opera’s expert panel failed on No.3 until they got a lot hints including that it was a bel canto opera.

Given the earlier answers on rockclimbing.com, the only unanswered question is.

9. Who gets caught in an avalanche of flaming lave caused by throwing a rock into the crater?

First to answer that will receive a copy of the Vedauwoo guidebook.

Rob.calm
heel and toe

M. Sprague posted this.

M Sprague wrote:New alpine record: the first to sing Vesti la Giubba on the Everest summit and hit all the notes. youtube.com/watch?v=-kbi1EM…

That's nice but what's more appropriate is an aria from La Wally. Here's the most famous one with English subtitles

Angela GHEORGHIU

and here's a version that's hard to beat for its emotional intensity.

Whilemenia Wiggins Fernandez

Rob.calm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw5x0mFDqA0

Pagliacci it ain't!

Chris D wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw5x0mFDqA0 Pagliacci it ain't!

The critics agree with you.

Critic A star-telegram.com/entertain… theaterjones.com/ntx/review… Critic B Link C